2026 Vols Transfer Portal Thread

Brown isn’t a rim protector. Points per game at the center isn’t what I’m worried about. It’s the rim protector that can cover defensive mistakes and discourage a guard from trying to finish at the rim.

Brown was 3rd on the team in blocks...only Felix and Nate had more

Felix = 52
Nate = 22
Brown = 15
JP = 12

Incoming...
Rubin = 76
Lue = 50

Those 2 additions accounted for 126 blocks alone last season... as a team the Vols combined for 136

Other than neither Rubin or Lue being 6'11" the "no rim protector" argument is just unfounded.
 
You really just hope Rubin can match Felix...

6'11" - Felix was a 27mpg, 8.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.5bpg
6'10" - Rubin was a 30mpg, 11.3ppg, 7.1rpg, 2.3bpg

6'11" - JP is a weird one...some folks grossly overrate him and some grossly underrate him, but objectively not as big a void to replace with his production being 18mpg, 10ppg, 5.4rpg, 0.4bpg

I expect Brown will see an expanded role in year 2 and there will be growth from that development. His wingspan was already tied for longest on the team.

Assuming Haralson matches close to his previous production at the 4 you really only need to see Lue reach similar stats off the bench to what Brown offered in year 1.... 15mpg, 4.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 0.4bpg

I still very much expect Washington to be a first year contributor as well...and I think folks will be surprised at his size and skillset. Unlike other HS bigs we've brought in he's got a great lower body already and is very explosive. Really good wingspan too. Even though Cade missed the majority of the year Washington imo is an upgraded version of him.
Agree about JP. Other than his 5 fouls, what he brought to the table was 10 points. We’ve added more than enough scoring from the wings to replace the offense we lost.
 
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That's a question for you.

I have a scenario for anyone:
One Tennessee team was comprised of a 6'7" Center, a 6'4" PF and a 6'10" guy coming off the bench.
The other team had an elite front line - 6'10" Center, 6'11" PF and a 6'9" SF.

That Tennessee frontline's NBA combined careers - Zero years, zero games.
That other team's frontline's NBA combined careers - 45 years....and counting.

These teams played twice. What do you suppose the outcome was?
One of those teams won back to back national championships. And it wasn't the short team. Size isn't everything but I am not sure this is the winning argument you think it is.
 
Honestly not too worried about if we have to go small ball.

If I remember correctly, Houston made the National Championship with a 6’8 center.

Throw Brown at Center and call it a day. Similar size to J’Wan Roberts as well.

Roberts: 6’8, 235
Brown: 6’8, 250

Roberts averaged 10 and 6 playing 30 minutes

Brown averaged 5 and 3 playing 14 minutes. I believe per 40 is kinda similar…I’d have to go back and look to be honest.
Trippie using Per-40, now? 🤔
 
Good, vols no longer an everything school and should be providing maximum funding to the vols most consistent winning program.
I think both the baseball and the softball team rank above the basketball program in consistent winning, at bare minimum on a similar footing. I guess if you want to disregard the baseball team because Vitello is gone now you could, but as it sits currently still the only program with a streak of 5 straight supers appearances, plus the natty.
 
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How many of the transfers that have, at least a year left, come back to the Vols, next year ? Juke probably goes to the NBA and if he doesn't, I doubt he comes back to UT. Hill ? NBA might be an option, not sure. But, I could see him returning, Rick does have a way with PGs. Haralson ? Depends on what kind of season he has, I think he will eventually play in the NBA, but probably not next year. Ames ? I'm high and can't remember if he has another year or not. Still, if he does, I think we can keep him. Lue ? I can see him leaving. Pretty sure, L-blade is out of eligibility, Rubin may be, too. If not, Rubin comes back.

Of course, I never thought Evans and Boswell would transfer out, so what do I know
 
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How many of the transfers that have, at least a year left, come back to the Vols, next year ? Juke probably goes to the NBA and if he doesn't, I doubt he comes back to UT. Hill ? NBA might be an option, not sure. But, I could see him returning, Rick does have a way with PGs. Haralson ? Depends on what kind of season he has, I think he will eventually play in the NBA, but probably not next year. Ames ? I'm high and can't remember if he has another year or not. Still, if he does, I think we can keep him. Lue ? I can see him leaving. Pretty sure, L-blade is out of eligibility, Rubin may be, too. If not, Rubin comes back.

Of course, I never thought Evans and Boswell would transfer out, so what do I know
Believe Ames and Lundblade are out of eligibility (pending rule change, for Ames at least) while Rubin has another year
 
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How many of the transfers that have, at least a year left, come back to the Vols, next year ? Juke probably goes to the NBA and if he doesn't, I doubt he comes back to UT. Hill ? NBA might be an option, not sure. But, I could see him returning, Rick does have a way with PGs. Haralson ? Depends on what kind of season he has, I think he will eventually play in the NBA, but probably not next year. Ames ? I'm high and can't remember if he has another year or not. Still, if he does, I think we can keep him. Lue ? I can see him leaving. Pretty sure, L-blade is out of eligibility, Rubin may be, too. If not, Rubin comes back.

Of course, I never thought Evans and Boswell would transfer out, so what do I know
If Haralson doesn't develop a shot I don't think he'd make it in the NBA as a wing player.
 
One of those teams won back to back national championships. And it wasn't the short team. Size isn't everything but I am not sure this is the winning argument you think it is.
Tennessee finished ahead of Florida in the SEC and won the East. UT earned a 2 seed, Florida earned a 3 seed. Tennessee's body of work that year with a much, much smaller team was better than Florida's. It's a winning argument.
By the way, the answer to my question - what was the outcome? - was a sweep by Tennessee.
A (slim) 6'8" Center and a 6'4" Power Forward getting a 2 seed is unthinkable to the younger crowd.
 
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If Haralson doesn't develop a shot I don't think he'd make it in the NBA as a wing player.
I agree, but he can, I think of Haralson as a Cade Cunningham kind of player. His shot is going to come and he is already a great passer. Not saying he is a PG like Cade. They both finish at the rim, almost any time they want to. Just their style of play and Cade had to develop his shot. In other words, I think Haralson has mad potential, especially if he develops his shooting. Plus, he's my new favorite Vol since Amari left
 
The 6-10 guy started, if we are talking about the 2005-6 vols. And the 6-7 guy started also about half the time.

It was

CJ
Lofton
Dane
Patterson (6-7)
Wingate (6-10)

Or

CJ
Lofton
Asumnu
Dane (6-4)
Wingate (6-10)

And they won a lot of games, but their kryptonite was height. Tall rosters gave them a really hard time for the most part. They got dog-walked by LSU and Memphis. Of course, they went on to upgrade the roster and etc, but that 06 team was fun but definitely needed more height
 
Tennessee finished ahead of Florida in the SEC and won the East. UT earned a 2 seed, Florida earned a 3 seed. Tennessee's body of work that year with a much, much smaller team was better than Florida's. It's a winning argument.
By the way, the answer to my question - what was the outcome? - was a sweep by Tennessee.
A (slim) 6'8" Center and a 6'4" Power Forward getting a 2 seed is unthinkable to the younger crowd.
I loved that team. They were a bunch of overachievers. But I would still take Florida's front line with their size and championships.
 
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Correct. And so back to my original assertion…I’m worried about depth at the 5. If Rubin is in foul trouble, we have zero alternative.
Because Brown isn’t the rim protector Rubin is, he’s not an alternative? That makes no sense. Of course he’s an alternative. They have different skill sets. Just like Felix and JP had different skill sets. The alternatives at the 5 are Rubin, Lue (who is also a good rim protector, averaging 1.4 bpg last season) and Brown. That’s not “zero alternatives.” That’s 3 different dudes with 3 different skill sets. And we’ll likely add a 4th.
 
The 6-10 guy started, if we are talking about the 2005-6 vols. And the 6-7 guy started also about half the time.

It was

CJ
Lofton
Dane
Patterson (6-7)
Wingate (6-10)

Or

CJ
Lofton
Asumnu
Dane (6-4)
Wingate (6-10)

And they won a lot of games, but their kryptonite was height. Tall rosters gave them a really hard time for the most part. They got dog-walked by LSU and Memphis. Of course, they went on to upgrade the roster and etc, but that 06 team was fun but definitely needed more height
The Lofton teams’ kryptonite wasn’t tall front lines. It was tall Guards. That’s why we lost to Louisville in 2008 in the S16 with what was probably Pearl’s greatest team.

Those LSU and Memphis losses…same problem…big Guards/Wings.
 

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